Apparatus for pressing records



May 16, 1950 T. F. STACY APPARATUS FOR PRESSING RECORDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1945 T. F. STACY APPARATUS FOR PRESSING RECORDS May 16, 1950,

I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1945 H H H H H .H I IHHH II HHHI IH'I I IHH HH H H H min.

/ d) INVENTOR.

fix/a BY afiarfleys May 16, 1950 T. F. sTAcY 2,508,301

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING RECORDS Filed March 22, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY A. m M g a-fi orvze' .S'

May 16, 1950 T. F. STACY PAPPARATUS FOR PRESSING RECORDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 22, 1945 I 1 VENTOR.

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afform ys' y 1950 T. F. sTAcY 2,508,301

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING RECORDS Filed March 22, 1945 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L V 45 g, g

A j 7 219 W v f 55 45 59 1T IN V EN TOR.

BY m 7 5) m Patented May 16, 1950 T orrice APPARATUS FOR PRESSING RECORDS Thomas- F. Stacy, Piqua, Ohio, assignor to The French Oil Mill Machinery Company, Piqua,

Application March 22, 1945, Serial No. 584,192

Claims.

This invention relates to record presses and particularly to themechanism by which a cycle of operation of the press is carried out automatiwhy, and toan improved method of operating such a press.

In record presses where the head tilts into and out of pressing position, the head has considerable mass and consequently inertia. It is desirable that the closing and opening movements of the head be rapid, in order that the time required for each: operation of the press be a minimum, which results in increased output of the press. If the head moves quickly, there is danger of shock in the press structure due to inertia if the head stopped suddenly, and to start a substantial mass in. operation suddenly or to stop it suddenly requires considerable: force, and hence considerable available operating power. The sequence of operations or steps in a complete'pressing" cycle: should be in a; particular order, and the time between successive operations should; be a minimum, so that the time required for a: complete operation of the pressmaybe a minimum; Heretofore thevarious steps in the operation: of a. press have been under the control of a timer, but it has been necessary' to allow adequate time for eachoperation or stepbefore the next step is initiated, and because of this the: steps cannot proceed as: rapidly in. the sequence as might otherwise be possible. If adequate" time was not allowed for each operationto be completed before the next one was initiated, a second: step, mightv be initiated before the next preceding one was. fully completed, possibly resulting, in wrecking. or seriously damaging the press-.. For. example, if. the locking bars were unable to move fully into locking position before full pressure was applied. to the platen,

serious injury to. the. pressmight result.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved. method oi operating a record press,

and an improved control. apparatus for the press, through. which the time required fora complete cycle of. operation of the. press may be reduced to a minimum without danger of injury to the pressthrough incomplete performance of any step before. a succeeding. step is initiated, and which will be relatively simple, practical and dependable.

Another object: of the invention is to provide an improved method of operating a record press, with which the different operating steps may follow one another safely and rapidly in proper sequence, which will require a minimum of changes in the operating mechanism of a record press, and with which the movement of the tilting head into and out of pressing position may be rapid but Without shock, and require a minimum of operating power.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for operating a record: press, with which the operating. steps may safely be caused to follow one another in rapid sequence, with a minimum of time delay between successive steps, which will he automatic in ac-' tion once a cycle has been: initiated, which will require a minimum of servicing, which will not greatly increase the space occupied by the press and its controls, with which. the sequence of steps will be carried out in their reverse order when the pressing operation has been completed, and which will be relatively simple, compact and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for tilting the head with which the initial and final movements will be relatively slow, but rapid in the intermediate movements, so that the tilting will be rapid but free from shock, and which will require a minimum size of operating motor for tilting the head.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a record press with a tilting head constructed in accordance with this invention, the head being shown in pressing position after a pressing operation and just as the head is about to be um locked;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe same;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same with cer tain parts broken away to show interior details of construction of some of the parts;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the same; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the controls that may be em loyed with such apress in accordance with this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention the press includes a' frame I having upstanding, spaced parallel sides 2- and 3, and a pressl'nghead 5 pivoted on its opposite side edges by trunnions or pivots 5 to the side members 2 and 3-; This head 4 extends forwardly from the pivots 5 between the upright sides 2" and 3 and isfre'e to tilt upwardly and rearwardl'y' frompressing position about the axis of pivots 5. A counter weight 6 mounted on the rear end or the head 3 beyond the pivots 5 balances the head and decreases the power required to tilt the head from its horizontal pressing position, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to an inclined position shown by the dash lines A, in Fig. 1. A link I is pivoted by pin 8 to the rear end portion of the head 4 in a slot therein, and at its other end is pivotally connected by a crank pin 9 to a crank arm I which is fixed on a shaft II. The shaft II is suitably mounted for rotation in the base of the frame I of the press, and it also has fixed thereon a gear or pinion I2 so that the pinion I2 and crank arm ID will both rotate with the shaft II.

Mounted for reciprocation on a surface I3 of the base of frame I is a rack bar I4 having its teeth meshing with the teeth of the pinion I2. When the rack bar I4 is reciprocated, it will rock the crank arm back and forth. The rack bar I4 is connected at one end to a piston rod I5 that extends into an operating cylinder I6 and within said cylinder carries a piston head, so as to form with the cylinder IS a double acting, fluid operated motor. When the piston rod I5 is at one limit of its movement, such as its advance movement, as shown in Fig. 1, the crank arm III and the connecting rod or link I will be in a proximate alinement, that is, the crank pin 9 will be in approximate dead-center position, with the head 4 in its horizontal, pressing position. When the piston rod I5 is retracted into its cylinder I6, its rack bar will rotate the crank arm I0 counterclockwise in Fig. 1, and through the link I will tilt the head 4 into the inclined position shown by the dash line A in Fig. 1. When the piston rod I5 is again advanced, it will return the crank arm In to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and thus tilt the head 4 into the pressing position.

The side frame member 2, at its upper end, has a pair of lugs II (Figs. 2 to 4) spaced apart forwardly and rearwardly, and the side frame memher 3 has similar lugs I8 spaced apart forwardly and rearwardly. The lugs II project towards the opposite lugs I8, the forward lugs I! and I8 being alined with each other transversely of the press, and the rear lugs I1 and I8 being similarly alined with each other. The head 4 is narrow enough to pass between the lugs I1 and I8 when the head 4 is tilted. The forward end of head 4 (Fig. 1) mounts a pair of locking members I9 and 24 for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly, and these members are connected to each other in spaced relation by spacing rods 2| carrying nuts 22 on the ends of the rods which clamp between them opposite faces of the members. This spaces the members on the rods. Each of these members I9 and 20 has a width, considered from side to side of the machine, sufficient to extend beneath the oppositely disposed and alined lugs I! and I8. They have depths from front to rear such that when the head 4 is tilted into and out'of the horizontal position, while the members I9 and 20 are in the dash line positions shown by dash lines'B in Fig. 1, they will clear the lugs I! and I8. 7

When the head 4 is horizontal, as shown in the full line position in Fig. 1; the members I9 and 20 may be moved forwardly as a unit to engage beneath lugs I I and I8, and lock the head 4 in its horizontal, pressing position and against upward and rearward tilting. Wear shoes 23 of hardened metal may be secured on the upper surfaces of the members I9 and 20 to engage beneath the lugs I1 and I8. Stops 24 (Fig. 2)

are disposed on the side members 2 and 3 to limit the movement of the head 4 beyond a horizontal osition, and the walls of these stops 24 may have beveled cam surfaces 25, Fig. 2, which are downwardly convergent, and which at their wider, upper portions receive the edges of the head 4 and guide the head 4 downwardly so as to center it horizontally in proper position above the platen 26. It will be understood that the record dies may be carried on the head 4 and platen 26 as usual in record presses. The stops 24 and the head 4 may have hardened strike plates 2'! and 28 respectively, at opposite sides of the press which accurately limit the movement of the plate 4 as it moves into pressing position.

A piston 29, Figs. 1 and 4, operates in a cylinder 3B and with it forms a double-acting, fluid actuated motor, and the free or outer end of the piston 29 is coupled to the rear locking member 28. The cylinder 30 is mounted on the upper face of the head 4, and it serves to reciprocate the locking members I9 and 20 forwardly into looking position, and rearwardly into unlocked position, which positions are determined by engagement of the members I9 and 20 with opposite ends of limit stop C (Fig. 1). The platen 26 is reciprocated upwardly by a ram or piston 3 I, Fig. 5, which operates in a cylinder 32. The admission of fluid to, and its release from the cylinder 32 is controlled by a suitable reversing valve 33, Fig. 5, which is pilot operated by an air motor 34. Operating fluid, such as a hydraulic liquid, is admitted to the valve 33 through a pipe 35 running from a source of operating fluid under pressure, and a pipe 36 connects the valve to the reservoir or exhaust. When the air motor 34 is operated in one direction, it connects the pipe 35 to the cylinder 32, and when in the other direction it connects the exhaust pipe 36 to the cylinder and disconnects the cylinder 32 from pipe 35.

A guard or gate in the nature of a plate 3! (Figs. 1 and 4) is slidingly mounted in guides 33 at the forward face of the frame, for movement vertically in any suitable manner such as by a piston 39 operating in a cylinder 40 and forming a double-acting, fluid actuated motor. In the example illustrated, the piston 39 is connected to a plate 4| which is guided vertically in one of the guides 38, and this plate 4| rotatably mounts a pinion 42. This pinion 42 meshes with the teeth of a stationary rack 43 which is mounted on the guide 38, and also meshes with the teeth of a rack 44 which is fixed to the gate 3I. The racks 43 and 44 extend vertically in parallel relation, and when the gear 42 is shifted bodily in a vertical direction, it will roll along the rack 43 and cause a vertical movement of the rack 44 in the same vertical direction and thus elevate the gate 31 into a protective position in front of the press where it prevents access to the space between the platen 26 and the head 4. When the piston 39 is retracted, it lowers the pinion 42 and thus similarly lowers the rack 44 and gate 31. Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, the operating system with controls is illustrated diagrammatically. The hydraulic motors having the cylinders I6, 30 and 40 are shown as of the double acting type, operated by a fluid under pressure from a suitable source, such as compressed air under a relatively high or substantial pressure, which is supplied through a pipe 45. The pipe 45 is connected to a pilot operated, 4-way reversing valve 46 which is connected by pipes 41. and 48 to opposite ends of the cylinder 30. This valve 46 has asoaaor exhaust portsv 49. Valves or thisv type are well known in theart, and for that reason they have been shown only diagrammatically. They have a. valve element. which, when. moved; endwise', connects. the: pipes d! and 4B alternately to t as pipe 45-, and the pipe 4'! or 48 which is not con nected at any time to the pipe 45 is automatically connected to one of the exhaust ports 49. The pilot chamber in valve 56 is operated by fluid pressure. supplied by a pipe 50 in a manner which will be. explained: later.

Similarly the pipe 45- is connected. to pilot opcrated,..l-way, reversing. valve 51 which is con.- nected by pipes 52* and 5t toopposite ends of. the cylinder It. The valve 5! has exhaust ports 54, and when the. valve element of. this valve is operated, it connects the pipe. 45 alternately to: the pipes 52 and 531, and vents whichever of those pipes then disconnected from pipe 451 The valve chamber of that valve is supplied with operating fluid through. a pipe 55 in. a manner which will be explained later. The pipe 65 is also connected to another pilot operated, 4-way reversing valve 56 which is connected by pipes 51 and 58' to opposite ends of the cylinder 40'', so that: when the valve element of valve 56 is operated'; it connects the pipe #5 alternately to the pipes 51'" and 58 and vents to. exhaust ports 59, whichever of those pipes 51 or 5B- is then disconnected from the pipe 45. The pilot chamber of valve 56 is supplied with operating fluid through a pipe. 6!! in a manner which will be explained later. Pipe 45 is also connected, through a pressure reducing valve iii, to a low pressure line 52 which supplies the operating fluid or air for the various. pilot chambers.

The. material from which records are made is usuallya. thermo-plastic material". which is molded while soft, in dies, and then chilled while under pressure in the dies, so that it will retain its molded form. Accordingly the dies. must be heated to soften the molding material and keep it softandmoldable while it is being pressed, and after it has been pressed, the steam must be disconnected and the die cooled, such as by circulation of a chilling fluid through the dies, in order to set or harden the pressed and. molded materials For this purpose a suitable timer is employed for controlling the duration of the cycle, and the admission of. steam and water to the. dies. for heatingv andchilling them. It also controls the valve. that regulates. the exhaustfrom the steam plates that may be either open to a waste-line or to a trap line, so that the sate can be returned to a hot well..

One example of such a suitable time controller, which has been found satisfactory for thispurpose is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5, and it. is obtainable in the open market under the trade name Flex-o-Tirner or time cycle controller, manufactured and sold by Taylor Instrument'companies, of Rochester, New York. It is: disclosed in Bulletin #538,154, June; 1940' edition of the Taylor Instrument Companies, and

also isdisclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,272,237 of F February 16'; 1942, to which reference may be hadfor' a more complete disclosure of asuitable timer. Such a timer has a series of air valves 63; 64, 65 and 66. The air valve 6 3-, when operated, serves to connect the pilot line to alternately' to the low pressure air line 62 and to an exhaustport- 61'. The valves M, 65 and to are similar valves that control the water, steam and trap or by-pass lines in a similar manner through pilotoperated valves. One example of such" a valvels disclosed in: U. S. PatentNo. 2,261,821? of November 4', 1941.

To; initiate an operation of a press, the. operator will operate a. pushv button in the timer, not shown, which starts the timer in operation fora cycle, and immediately the timer operates the valve 63 to connect the: pipe 60 to the low pressure supply line 62. It. will be understood that previously, while the timer was, idle; thepilot pipe 60 was connected byvalve 63 to the exhaust port; 6?. When the timer starts, it controls the valves 63,, 64-, and 66 and causes their operation in a predetermined manner which need not be further considered in connection with this invention, except that the valve 63 will be held closed for the desired period of operation of. the cycle, and then when the timer times out or finishes itscycle, the valve 63 will disconnect pipe 60 from the air supply line 62 and connect it to. port 61.

When compressed air is supplied to the pipe 60, it: causes an operation of valve 56 to establish the flow connections therethrough as shown by the dash lines in Fig. 5, in which the air line 45 is connected. to the" lower end of the cylinder 40, which causes. an advance of the gate piston 39 so as to carry the gate: into protective position, that is, its elevated position in this type of press. The continuance of pressure. in the pilot line 60 will serve. to hold the gate inv it protective position until the timer times out and valve 63 vents the pipe 60;

Thepilot line 59 which leads to the valve 45 is connected through a 2-way valve 68 to a pipe 69 leading to another Z-way valve 10'. The valve I0 is connected by a pipe H to a valve 12, and also to the air supply line 62. The valve 12 is also a 2-way valve which, when operated, connects" the pipe H alternately to an exhaust port l3 and to a pipe M which is connected to the pilot pipe 60. The valve 12 is controlled by the gate or the gate piston 39, as the gate moves into or leaves its full protective position. In. the diagram of Fig. 5, the gate piston 39 of the gate rocks a bell crank lever 15' against the action of a spring, and. the valve 12 is spring. operated into .one connecting position when the bell crank releases the valve, and isv operated into its. other. connecting, position when the. bell. crank 15 is released to. the action of its own: spring whichovercomes the. spring of the valve. The gate piston 38 may, however, operate the valve element of valve l2 directly, instead of through a bell crank. When the gate is lowered, the valve i2 is operated to connect the pipe; H. to the exhaust port 1'3, but when the gate approximately reaches; its full protective position, it causes an operation of the valve 12 to connect: the pipe H to the pipe M.

The valvev H1. has its movable valve element spring actuated in one direction and positively moved in the. other direction by a lever 16 pivoted at IT, and disposed to be engaged and operated by the platenzfi; When the platen. 26

rises, it releaseslever T51 and" the latter releases the=valve element of the valve it; and that; valve element is then moved into aposition to connect the pipe 59 to the pipe 52'. When the platen 26 descends and has about reached the end of its descent, it rocks lever 16 in a direction to cause an operation of valve ll) in a manner to connect the pipe 69 tothe pipeil l The valve 68' is operated by a lever 18 pivoted at 1'9. Lever 18 is disposed to be operated by thehead 4 as the head moves into its pressing position, and when so operated, the lever 18 releases the valve element of valve 68, which is spring actuated into a position to connect the pipe 50 to the pipe 89. When the head 4 moves out of pressing position, it releases lever18 and a spring 80, which is more powerful than the spring in the valve 68, operates the valve 88 to connect the pipe 58 to an exhaust port 8| instead of to the pipe 69.

Another 2-way valve 42 is disposed for operation by a lever 83 pivoted at 84, and this lever, in turn, is disposed for operation by the locking member I 9 when that member moves into locking position on the head 4 while the latter is in pressing position. The valve 82 has its movable valve element pressed in one direction, and operated in the opposite direction by the lever 83. This valve serves to connect a pipe 85 from the air motor 34 alternately to a pipe 86 and to an exhaust port 81. The pipe 86 is connected to the pipe H. When the valve 12 connects the pipes 1i and 14, such as when the gate is in its protective position, it also connects the pipe 85 from the valve 82 to the source of air from the timer valve 83.

A valve 88, similar to the valve 82, is also connected to the pipe 86. A pipe 89 connects another port of the valve 88 to the low pressure air line 62 before it reaches the timer valve 63. The valve 88 is also connected to the pipe 55 which leads to the pilot chamber of the head tilting, control valve 5|. The valve 88 connects the pilot pipe 55 alternately with pipes 86 and 89. It is spring pressed in one direction and operated in the opposite direction by lever 98 pivoted at 9|, and disposed for operation by the locking member 28 as the latter approaches its fully retracted or unlocked position. The valves 88, 18, 12,82 and 88 may be of the type shown in said Patent No. 2,261,827.

In the operation of a press having these controls, a cycle of operation is initiated by operating th starting push button on the timer, not shown, but which is a part of the timer. The timer then begins its cycle of operation and immediately closes its valve 53 which previously had connected the pilot pipe 68 to the exhaust port 61. The valve 63, when operated by the timer, connects the low pressure air line 62 to the pilot line 68 which leads to the gate reversing valve 56, causing an operation of that valve to establish the flow connections shown by dash lines in Fig. 5. Air under high pressure from the line 45 then passes to the bottom of the cylinder 48, and causes an advance of the gate into protective position in front of the press. As the gate reaches or closely approaches its limit of movement in this -of the gate into protective position, it connects pipes 1| to 14.

At this time, the valve 82 connects the pilot pipe 85 to exhaust, since the locking mechanism is unlocked, but valve 88, which was operated by the locking member 20 at the end of the unlocking movement, connects the pilot pipe 55 to the pipe 86. Compressed air passing through timer valve 83 can therefore pass from the pipe 60 through .pipe 14, valve 12, pipe 1|, pipe 86, valve 88 and pipe 55 to the pilot cylinder of valve 5|, and operate the valve 5| into a position to air flow therethrough, as shown by dash lines in Fig. 5. In that position it connects the high pressure air line 45 to the pipe 53, and causes a, movement of the crank arm H! from its inclined position shown by dash lines A in Fig. 1 into the dead-center position shown in Fig. 5 to lower the head 4 into pressing position, which is shown by the full lines in Fig. 1. When the head 4 was inclined or out of pressing position, the valve 68 connected the pipe 58 to exhaust port 8!, and therefore no air would flow through pipe 1| beyond valve 10.

When the head 4 substantially reaches its pressing position, shown in Fig. 5, it causes an operation of valve 88 to change the flow from the dash line position in that valve to the full line position, and connects pipes 50 and 69. Low pressure air then is allowed to flow from timer valve 63 through pipes 68 and 14, through valve 12 to pipe 1|, through valve 18, pipe 89, valve 68 and pipe 50 to the pilot chamber of reversing valve 45. Valve 46 is then operated into a position to cause flow therethrough in the directions shown by the dash lines in Fig. 5, which admits high pressure air from the supply line 45 to the pipe 41 and then to one end of the cylinder 30 where it causes an advance of the locking members 19 and 28 into the locking position shown in Fig. 5. At the beginning of this movement, the locking member 28 releases the lever 88, and this causes an operation of the tie in valve 88 to connect the pilot pipe 55 to the pipe 89, which directly connects the air line 62 to the pipe 55 irrespective of the timer valve 63, so that the air pressure will remain on the pilot cylinder of reversing valve 5! after the timer valve 53 has timed out.

When the locking member 19 approximately reaches its locking position, it operates lever 83, and through it, causes an operation of valve 82 to connect the pipe to the pipe 86, as shown by the full lines in the valve in Fig, 5. Air from the timer 83 can then also pass through the pipes 60 and 14, valve 12, pipes 1| and 86, valve 82, and pipe 85 to the air motor 34. The air motor then operates valve 33 to cause fluid flow in the direction shown by the arrows in pipes 35 and 36 to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the hydraulic motor 32. This causes an advance of the ram 3| and platen 26 toward the pressing head 4. As soon as the platen 28 begins its advance, it releases lever 16, and this releases the valve 18 for operation into the full line flow position, shown in Fig. 5, where it connects the pipes 69 and 62. This connects the air line 62 through the valve 58 to the pilot chamber of the reversing valve 46, irrespective of the timer valve 68, so that after the timer times out, air will still be admitted to the pilot chamber of valve 46 to keep the locking members l9 and 20 in their advanced or locked position.

The pressing operation then continues, and at the conclusion of the cycle, as determined by the timer, the valve 53 is operated to disconnect the air line 62 from the pipe 68, and to vent the pipe 60 to the port 61. When the air is released from pilot pipe 88, reversing valve 56 automatically reverses by spring action, and admits fluid from the air line 45 to the upper end of the gate opening cylinder 40, and causes a retraction of the gate from its protective position. As soon as the gate begins its descent or retraction, valve 12 operates to vent the pipe 1| to exhaust (see dash line position), in addition to the venting of the pipe 14 through the pipe 60 to exhaust. This vents the pipe 86, and the latter, which is'connected through valve 82 to pipe 85, vents the air motor 34, and thereupon reversing valve 33 causes a rethe :exhaust port 181.

itracti'onzof the ram 3:] nto'the cylinder 32, and

ametractionof .the platen :26. During this retracfition, .rthe air pressure remains on the locking icylin'der Blip-and the head t remains locked.

the platen .-;2-6 closely approaches its retracted position, ittrocks zlever 1'15, and thereby operates valve 'IBzto reconnect the pipe 69 to the spine 5H and tventit through valve '12 to :the exhaust port .73. Air then escapes from the ;pilot chamber of reversing valve t6, and the latter then reverses and delivers air, :under pressure, to

ofunembers 1.9 and. 211,.1ever .83 is released, which causes an operation of valve 32 to :further vent pipes 1H5 from the air .;motor 35 directly through When thelocking member 2'0 has been fully retracted or unlocked, iit operates lever 90, and through it, valve 88, to re- ..connectpipe 55 to .the vented pipe as thereby venting pilot pipe 55.

When this happens, reversing valve 5! reverses by spring pressure, and air from high pressure line 45 is delivered through pipe 52 to the op- ;positeend of cylinder I6 and retracts the rack 44, which rocks the crank arm I counter-clockwise in Fig. to tilt the head .4 into an inclined position, shownby the dash lines A in Fig. 1.. At the beginning of this tilting movement of the press head 4, the crankpin 9 in moving from its dead-center position to tilt the head 4, moves very slowlyat thestart, and then accelerates :zrapidly in a simple, harmonic movement. At the beginning of this tilting operation, head 4 releases lever 18, and this results in an operation of valve 68 to directly vent pipe 50 through the port 81, the flow being shown by the dash lines in valve 68, Fig. 5. It will be noted that with this crank action, the head i is thus moved into and out of pressing position with a simple harmonic motion which is very desirable and free of shocks in this type of press.

The parts thus alllreturn to their normal, idle positions and remain there until a new cycle of operation is started bya reactuation of the timer, whereupon the same cycle of operation is repeated, as above explained. The operations of the valves 64, 65 and '66 are not explained because they are controlled'by'the timer and, per se, are no part of the present invention. It will also be noted -that when a cycle of operation is "initiated, it continues automatically, with the steps performed in proper sequence and eachstep controlled by a preceding step until the pressing operation is completed. When the timer times "outto termin'ate'this pressing operation,'the press is automatically 'openedand the parts returned to their normal, idle'positions bye/reverse sequence of steps in the proper order.

It will be 'understoodthat various changes in the details and arrangements or parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made 'by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the inventionasexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a record press of the type having a reciprocation platen, ahead "shiftab'le into and out of pressingposition in which the pressing face is normal to the direction of .rm'ovement of the platen, a gate movable into and out of a protective position relative to said head when in [pressing position, power operatedimeans iormov- :i-ng said .headintoand'out of said positions, and means for locking said head in pressing position,

that improvement in the control thereof which comprises-the combination with saidpr-ess of pilot controlled'means for controlling the movements of said :head into -andout of pressingposition,

.pilotcontrolled :means for controlling the movements of said gate, a connection "from a source by said gate as said gate reaches protective .position, a second ,pipe having 'saidsecond valve .in

series therein and connected to said pipe leading irom said nrst valveto 'saidgate pilot controlled "means, a fluid controlled pilot device for controlling the operation of said-locking means and connected to said second pipe to receive fiuidifrom said second valve when said gate is in protective :position and initiate a locking operation of said.

:head, a third valve in series in said second pipe normall-y venting said second pilot control means and disconnectingit from said second valve, but operable by said head, as said head moves into pressing position, "to connect said second valve to-sai'd second pilot control means, whereby said lockingoperation will bedeferred until said head "hasmov-ed into pressing position, a fourth valve connected in said second pipe between said third valve and saidsecond valve, and operable to connect said third valve alternately to said second valve and directly to said source of fluid pressure, and means controlled by the platen and operable into a position'toconnect said third valve directly to said fluid force while said platen is away from retracted position, whereby said gate may open after said platen has completed a pressing'operation, and while fluid pressure remains on said second pilot control means.

2. In a record press of the type having a reciprocating platen, a head shiftable into and out of pressing position in which the pressing face is normal to the direction of movement of the platen, a gate movable into and out of protective position relative to said head when in pressing position, power operated means for moving said head into and out of said positions, and means for locking said head in pressing position, that improvement in the control thereof which comprises the combination with said press of pilot controlled means for controlling the movements of said head into and out of pressing position, pilot-controlled means for controlling the movements of said gate, a connection from a source of fluid under pressure to the pilot controlled meansof said gate, a valve in said connection for controlling flow thereto, a second valve operated by said gate as said gate reaches protective position, a second pipe having said second valve in series therein and connected to said pipe leading from said first valve to said gate pilot controlled means, a fluid controlled pilot device for controlling the operation of said locking means and connected to said second pipe to receive fluid from said second valve whensaidgate is in protective position and initiate a locking operation of said head, a third valve in series in said second pipe normally venting said second pilot control means and disconnecting it from said second valve, but operable by said head, as said head moves into pressing position, to connect said second valve to said second pilot control means, whereby said locking operation will be "deferred until said head has moved into pressing position, a pilot controlled means governing the movement of said platen, a conduit connecting said third pilot controlled means to said second valve, a valve in said conduit operable to connect said third pilot control means alternately to said second valve and to exhaust, said valve in said conduit being normally in the position at which it connects said third pilot controlled means to exhaust, but caused to operate into its other position by said locking means as the latter completes its locking of said head in pressing position, whereby said platen will not start an advance movement until said head has been securely locked.

3. In a record press of the type having a press head mounted to swing into and out of a pressing position with respect to the movement of a pressing platen that is operated towards said head by a fluid actuated motor having a pilot operated controlling valve, a frame mounting said head and platen, and locking means for locking theiree end of said head to said frame in pressing position, that improvement therein which comprises a fluid actuated motor for operating said locking means, a fluid actuated motor for operating said head into and out of pressing position, a gate movable into and out of protective position in front of said head and platen, a fluid actuated motor for operating said gate, a source of high pressure operating fluid connected to each of said motors, a pilot valve for the connection to each of said motors to control the activity of that motor, a source of low pressure operating fluid connected to each of said pilot valves, a timer in the connection to the controlling pilot valve of I for connecting said low pressure fluid through that valve from the timer to the pilot valve of said, head locking motor to cause an operation of that motor to lock said head, means including a valve operated by said head locking means when the locking has been complete for connecting low pressure fluid from said timer to the pilot control valve of said platen operating motor to cause a pressing advance of the platen, and valve means controlled by said platen after it begins its pressing operation for connecting said low pressure fluid directly to the control pilot valve of said head locking motor in shunt to said timer to maintain the locking of said head free of control by said timer, said timer, when it completes a timing operation, discontinuing connection of low pressure to the pilot valve controlling said gate operating motor to start the gate towards open position, said gate controlled means being eifective upon the opening of the gate to release the fluid pressure on the pilot control valve of said platen operating motor and begin an opening of said press.

4. In a record press of the type having a press head mounted to swing into and out of a pressing position with respect to the movement of a pressing platen that is operated towards said head by a fluid actuated motor having a, pilot operated controlling valve, a frame mounting said head and platen, and locking means for locking the free end of said head to said frame in pressing position, that improvement therein which comprises a fluid actuated motor for operating said locking means, a fluid actuated motor for operating said head into and out of pressing position, a gate movable into and out of protective position in front of said head and platen, a fluid actuated motor for operating said gate, a source of high pressure operating fluid connected to each of said motors, a pilot valve for the connection to each of said motors to control the activity of that motor, a source of low pressure operating fluid connected to each of said pilot valves, a timer in the connection to the controlling pilot valve of said gate operating motor for causing said gate motor to close the gate, means made effective by said gate when closed for connecting low pressure fluid from said timer to the pilot valve of said head swinging motor and cause that motor to move said head into pressing position after said gate has closed, means including a valve operated by said head when it reaches closed position for connecting said low pressure fluid through that valve from the timer to the pilot valve of said head locking motor to cause an operation of that motor to lock. said head, means rendered effective by partial movement of said locking means towards locking position for connecting said source of fluid under low pressure to said pilot operated valve of said head swinging motor to cause movement of said head into pressing position, means including a valve operated by said head locking means when the locking has been complete for connecting low pressure fluid from said timer to the pilot control valve of said platen operating motor to cause a pressing advance of the platen, and valve means controlled by said platen after it begins its pressing operation for connecting said low pressure fluid directly to the control pilot valve of said head locking motor in shunt to said timer to maintain the locking of said head free of control by said timer, said timer, when it completes a, timing operation, discontinuing connection of low pressure to the pilot valve controlling said'gate operating motor to start the gate towards open position, said gate controlled means being efiective upon the opening of the gate to release the fluid pressure on the pilot control valve of said platen operating motor and begin an opening of said press.

5. In a record press of the type having a press head mounted to swing into and out of a pressing position with respect to the movement of a pressing platen that is operated towards said head by a fluid actuated motor having a pilot operated controlling valve, a frame mounting said head and platen, and locking means for locking the free end of said head to said frame in presssing position, that improvement therein which comprises a timer, means actuated by said timer for causing said gate to close, means activated by said gate While in closed position for causing said head to swing into pressing position, means activated by said head as it reaches closed position for causing said locking means to lock said head in pressing position, means activated by said locking means as it begins a locking movement for removing said head swinging means from the control of said timer, means activated by said locking means as it looks said head for causing a pressing movement of said platen towards said head, and means activated by said platen after it begins its pressing movement for removing said locking means from the control of said timer, said timer being efiective at the end of a period or" time for which itis set, to cause an opening movement of said gate, then a retraction of said platen, then an unlocking of said head, then a return of the control of said lock to said timer, then a return of said head movement control to said timer, and then a movement of said head from pressing position to complete a cycle of operation.

THOMAS F. STACY.

REFERENCES CITED Number 14 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wickes Jan. 1, 1918 Bostwick Jan. 10, 1933 Williams Nov. 12, 1935 Makenny et al Apr. 16, 1940 Erbguth June 11, 1940 MacBlane Apr. 1, 1941 Weida Jan. 6, 1942 Voth et al Apr. 14, 1942 Bosomworth Jan. 19, 1943 Yanchenko Jan. 11, 1944 

